Support for Lisbon rises in Ireland

Support is growing in Ireland for the Treaty of Lisbon, with an opinion poll published today showing that 54% of Irish voters would vote ‘Yes’ in a second referendum.

This is 2 points higher than responded ‘Yes’ in a similar poll two weeks ago. Those opposed to the treaty are at 28%, down 1 point.

The number of Irish voters who are undecided remains high, at 18%.

Last year, 53.4% of Irish voters rejected the treaty in a national referendum. The Irish government currently intends to put ratification of the EU’s reform treaty to another vote by the end of October.

The Irish Times poll appears to signal support for the Irish government’s demands for guarantees on the treaty, which will be agreed at a meeting of EU leaders on 18-19 June. Voters gave responses based on the understanding that the EU will promise to allow Ireland to retain a European commissioner and will provide legal guarantees on neutrality, ethical issues and taxation.

The economic crisis is also having an impact on public opinion, with 81% of people saying that Ireland is better off inside the EU than it would be outside the EU at the moment.

But women, one of the groups that was particularly opposed to the EU’s reform treaty when it was put to the vote last June, remain unenthusiastic about the treaty, with just 50% saying they would vote ‘Yes’. Fifty-nine percent of men support the treaty.

Opinion polls also predict that Libertas, which is campaigning against the treaty, will not win any European Parliament seats in Ireland when the country votes on Friday. Declan Ganley, the leader of the party, is the Libertas figure with the best standing, winning 9% in Ireland’s North West constituency. However, without substantial vote transfers, he is unlikely to win a seat.

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Propaganda at its' best

This is propaganda at it’s best, created in order to mess with the mindset of the Irish people. These polls are not real polls and anyone
with a shrewd mind knows this. I will be voting a big fat juicy NO just like I did the last time.